Cloud Technology, Refurbished Computers And Saving Money, A Winning Combination!

The owner of 2nd-Byte, Phil Lieber, is somebody that has over 35 years of experience in the technology “world”, and about every seven years we experience a major technology change and the process is for the most part the same. The technology is always about five years ahead of the software and the benefits for small- to mid-sized companies always follows the software development. Let’s review:

• 1970s
  Mini computers for the mid sized company (AS400’s RS600, DataMaster, Burroughs, NCR, etc.). Many software companies wrote code for specific hardware, most of the time it was for accounting and basic day-to-day operations.
• 1980s
  IBM’s PC was introduced. Some basic networking (Novell) and again software companies jumped on the PC bandwagon. These companies wanted their employees to have the freedom to do their work on a computer that was all their own and efficient for their work.
• 1990s
  Microsoft jumped in feet first with networking PC’s, client server technology, and their first Windows product. Once again software companies had to get to Windows or perish.
• 2000s
  In the late 90s and early 2000s, the Internet changed the world. Many software companies adapted to a Software as a Service (SAAS) platform using the Internet. Cloud computing falls under SAAS. This particular software eliminates the need for hardware expansion because it doesn’t store all your data on the computer itself and this is where the cloud computing idea was born.
• 2010
  Cloud technology was introduced in a number of ways, confusing most people. Correction: It caused A LOT of confusion. Software companies were again caught trying to get software to the cloud.
• Mid-2011
  Microsoft introduces Office365, a cloud-based solution, to the office product line. This included email. You no longer needed an email server in-house.

Today, Office365 is the most popular cloud-based solution in the market place. Your data is secure, backups are included, you have access anywhere, and the small- to mid-sized companies simply uses the product and pays a monthly subscription. Most business users subscribe to Office365 Premium, which allows you to have a desktop version. You can work offline from anywhere and when you connect to 365, your data is automatically updated.

Besides all of the benefits of the cloud, which are many, and since many computer users focus on email with the 365 product line, they can use a high quality, refurbished computer and experience NO performance issues. Let me give you an example:

Phil was the President of a leading MSP in the Omaha area and this was very typical of many of the clients:

• 25 employees.
• 5 power users that needed access to high end software such as accounting, CAD, or industry specific applications.
• 15 employees using the Office365 suite of products and maybe a few industry applications and 5 email-only accounts.

We would recommend high-end new computers, many times around $1,000 each for the 5 power users and 20 2nd-Byte computers beefed up with memory. The 2nd-Byte computers are business class, HP computers (complete with a 1 year warranty for an investment of only $30/computer). Many times the computer would be $300. With cloud technology, they were more than adequate with no compromise to performance. In the above example, we saved the client approximately $14,000 over purchasing all-new computers. Cloud technology is here and the savings are real!!

If you are in the market for high-quality, low-cost, off-lease refurbished computer equipment for your home or business, contact us at 2nd-Byte and we would love to help you out!